Geranium plant named ‘TOSTC0258’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘TOSTC0258’, characterized by its semi-double type, deep purplish-pink and white colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage with zonation, and vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Pelargonium xhortorum.

Variety denomination: ‘TOSTC0258’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant botanically known as Pelargonium x hortorum and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘TOSTC0258’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inHendrik-Ido-Ambacht, The Netherlands during July 2014. The objective ofthe breeding program was the development of heat-tolerant Geraniumcultivars with semi-double type flowers having attractive flowercoloration, and a vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

The new Geranium cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Pelargonium xhortorum breeding selection coded TA0530, not patented, characterized byits semi-double type, medium pink-colored flowers, medium green-coloredfoliage having zonation, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is Trend Hot Pink‘Hanna’, also sold as Dynamo Hot Pink ‘ToscaQ488’, not patented,characterized by its semi-double type, dark hot pink colored flowers,medium green-colored foliage having zonation, and moderately vigorous,upright-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered andselected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated cross-pollination during August 2015 in a controlled environmentin Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceAugust 2015 in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, The Netherlands, and Arroyo Grande,Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to typewith all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed andretained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘TOSTC0258’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double type, deep purplish-pink and white colored        flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage with zonation; and    -   3. Vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having increased growth vigor. Plants of the new cultivardiffer from plants of the male parent primarily in having a lighter pinkflower color and increased growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Geranium cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Big Ezee Pink ‘Duebezpinimp’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 27,852. However, in comparison, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Duebezpinimp’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is        slightly darker pink than plants of ‘Duebezpinimp’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller diameter        inflorescences than plants of ‘Duebezpinimp’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of        ‘Duebezpinimp’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘TOSTC0258’. The plants were approximately 3 months old and grown in4.5-inch pots for approximately 10 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘TOSTC0258’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual umbel of‘TOSTC0258’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of an individual leaf of ‘TOSTC0258’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in March 2019 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately3-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown ina glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used incommercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in4.5-inch pots for approximately 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growthmedium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 67° F.to 72° F. (19° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting wasused. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplants.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium x hortorum ‘TOSTC0258’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium x hortorum breeding            selection coded TA0530, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Trend Hot Pink ‘Hanna’, also sold as Dynamo Hot            Pink ‘ToscaQ488’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 9 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,            upright-mounded.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 24.5 cm. Height from soil level to top of            foliage: Approximately 14.5 cm. Width: Approximately 28.0            cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main            branches per plant: Approximately 3.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 7.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            17D and colorless, transparent. Color of young and mature            stem: 146C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 8. Fragrance: Moderate. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem, blade            is primarily perpendicular to stem. Shape: Reniform. Margin:            Bicrenate, palmately lobed, moderately wavy. Apex: Obtuse.            Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Palmate. Length of mature            leaf: Approximately 7.5 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 9.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color of upper surface of young foliage: Closest to 137B            with a faint overlay of NN137A on zonal area of            approximately outer two thirds of leaf, venation of 146C.            Color of lower surface of young foliage: 147B with venation            of 146D. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest            to 137A with an overlay of NN137A on zonal area of            approximately outer two thirds of leaf, venation of 146C.            Color of lower surface of mature foliage: Closest to 147B            with venation of 146D.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 6.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.5 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            17D and colorless, transparent. Color: 146B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘TOSTC0258’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            12 to 14 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Umbel, semi-spherical. Positioned            above foliage. Quantity of fully open umbels per plant:            Approximately 2. Quantity of developing umbels per plant:            Approximately: 2. Fragrance: None detected. Length or            height: Approximately 6.0 cm. Width: Approximately 8.5 cm.            Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:            Approximately 12.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 14.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: 17D and colorless,            transparent. Color: 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Semi-double.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elliptic. Length:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 8.0 mm. Sepal            texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Petal texture: Glabrous. Petal color: N57D.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 cm.            Depth: Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Approximately 7 to 9 petals and 1 to 2            irregularly-shaped petaloids per flower. Shape: Obovate.            Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Attenuate. Length of upper petals: Approximately 2.7 cm.            Width of upper petals: Approximately 2.4 cm. Length of lower            petals: Approximately 2.5 cm. Width of lower petals:            Approximately 2.3 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface of upper petals when fully            open: Approximately lower half of NN155D with upper half of            N66C, venation of N66B at base. Color of lower surface of            upper petals when fully open: NN155D with an overlay of            N66D, venation of N66C. Color of upper surface of lower            petals when fully open: N66C with a small area of NN155D at            base. Color of lower surface of lower petals when fully            open: NN155D with an overlay of N66D, venation of N66C.        -   Calyx.—Shape: 5-pointed star. Diameter: Approximately 2.1            cm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Approximately 5, fused at base.            Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acuminate. Length            of upper sepal: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width of upper sepal:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of lower sepals: Approximately            1.2 cm. Width of lower sepals: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture            of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:            Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color of upper and lower surfaces: 146D tinted with 185A at            base.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to peduncle.            Length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately            2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of            glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color: 146D tinted with 185A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of mature stamens:            Approximately 6 to 8 per flower. Anther shape: Oblong.            Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 71B.            Filament length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Filament color:            NN155D with an overlay of 71A near anther. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: 32A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma            shape: 5-branched. Stigma length: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Stigma color: 186A. Style length: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Style color: 186A. Ovary length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Ovary            texture: Densely pubescent. Ovary color: 145A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Geranium has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘TOSTC0258’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 